Lútáng

Lutang was a frontier fort north of Jingyuan, beyond the Yellow River in the dry country leading toward Ningxia. Before the fort was built, the land was used as pasture by a Mongol group. In 1599 the Ming established Lutang Fort, stationed more than a thousand soldiers and placed an officer in command. A line of frontier wall and numerous guarded passes extended from the fort; a smaller fort stood to the east. Together they controlled routes across the exposed country beyond the river.